Image set into a vintage frame then added pale green texture with PicMonkey's Time Machine effect to match the water on the left. Only light texture added as I didn't want to harden the misty soft grey shades of the buildings

Photo taken on the Danube river boat tour using the Nikon Coolpix S6400 set on landscape

You may have already noticed that I love playing with

my blog banners....just like I love blogging in general.

I guess the entire process satisfies the creative urge remaining from my years working in art and advertising.

This one above started out a bit blah, so, in

PicMonkey, I added the Urbane effect and then

played with Ediface Textures, adding and changing...

.....eventually coming up with this version above.

I also changed the type to a handwritten style font.

For this second version, I set the banner on top of

one of my own vintage textures and, for a different effect, and added text to the side.

A word about using textures: I have absolutely no idea what

I'm doing most of the time! I could never make a tutorial

anyone could comprehend. I just go for it, adding and

subtracting, changing sizes to fit when using my own

vintage frames.

Textures/effects in PicMonkey are great and easy to use, gathering a folder of your own is fun but requires more work. There are fabulous bloggers out there doing awesome things with the 'big' programs such as PhotoShop - I do not come close to their images.

But, that said, this has to be my favorite 'challenge'

to date from Donna. Thanks to digital photography, so

much is possible to each of us now, whether professionals or amateurs, when armed with a camera, a simplified editing program, and a some time to 'play' with all these photos we take!

21 comments:

It was fun to see the two collages with the various textures on them. I worried without PhotoShop my creativity wouldn't be that great but PicMonkey has a lot to offer. I also use my iPhoto software for editing.

I can tell that you went for it with abandon - which is exactly what this particular challenge requires! You have to take the time to play, seeing what works and what doesn't. I adore all these grunge textures that you used. They really make your collage compositions sing! I'm glad that you had fun with this one, venturing forth fearlessly, and learned a new technique that you can rely upon again and again in the future. And you are so correct about the online programs that are available for free these days. You can do some mighty fancy techniques with them!

I do love picmonkey but have never really played with the backgrounds. I love the effects you have used and how you have taken out things such as the crane. Beautiful shots. Have a wonderful weekend. xx

This is turning into my favorite challenge, too. I love seeing what a difference some textures can make and I'm happy to learn about some new techniques using sites I'm familiar with! You always have the most beautiful photos. I need some texture to my hair! haha! Sweet hugs! Oh....and I love making banners, too!

I could tell when I clicked on your blog that you do a lot of photo editing already! Just beautiful and I loved what you showed today. I think we do things a bit similarly, wandering here and there and not always keeping track of how we got where we did. Your Budapest (I may have walked over that bridge more than once) drew me to look at more of your Budapest pictures -- just beautiful. I've been there twice but my dream is to take my husband some day. Such a romantic old city!

As soon as I arrived at your blog, your header caught my attention, and I just knew that you would ace this texture challenge! :)Your images are beautiful! You obviously have an artist's eye; it shows in all your work. (And then I read that you did work in art and advertising...so it all fits.)

This challenge was made for you dear Mary!!Your photos and mosaics are always interesting and full of wonderful textures.By adding more layering these images are breathtaking - the touch of France mosaic is like images of art from the old masters.Your banners are always a source of inspiration to me!HugsShane xox

Dear Mary, I love your photographs and how you choose your subjects and how you apply textures, especially those with stronger colors. You have a special talent for composition and you see the beauty in the most ordinary things and then you combine them with the most splendid. ox, Gina

You have some wonderful effects on your collages! Every one looks super! I'd say you really know what you are doing!I also had a look at your photos from Prague, as I spent 11 days there this past July. Isn't it a wonderful city? I could have stayed a month, but would have needed more memory cards for my camera...

This was a fun challenge, wasn't it? I love the bridge photo and how you altered it subtly but with dramatic effect. Really wonderful, the old buildings contrast with the newer bridge. And the French-themed collage - so beautiful, but then I'm drawn to most things with French flavor.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR is a fresh version of my former three year blog ACROSS THE POND which can still be accessed by clicking on the title above.I'm a transplanted Brit enjoying life in North Carolina.

Fifty five years of journeying back and forth across the wide Atlantic Ocean have kept me busy…….and made my life very interesting! Although I've now visited all seven continents, I continue to travel and look forward to sharing new places around the world.I love taking photos! All images are my own unless noted otherwise. Please do not use my photos without a request. I enjoy sharing and will usually say OK!

Malaysia 2012

Singapore 2012

Hawaii 2012

Hoi An 2011

Vietnam 2011

Chiang Mai 2011

Bangkok 2011

TASMANIA 2011

Australia Nov. 2011

Expedition Cruising 2011

M/V Orion

Sub-Antarctic 2011

King Penguins

My African Safari...May 2010

The Lion

Africa 2010

The Leopard

Africa 2010

Remembering Africa - 2010

Lassen National Park, California

Thanks so much for reading along this far……if you've enjoyed my tales and photos and would like to see more, click on the Older Posts button, or the photo thumbnails above to take you back…there are awesome countries and exciting adventures. If you love to decorate your personal space, dig and delve in your garden, and turn out tasty morsels from your kitchen..........you're at the right place!